Nierembergia plant named ‘Sunniparisobu’

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of  Nierembergia  plant having an erect growth habit. The  Nierembergia  plant has many branches, and a great profusion of blooms, the whole plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flowers are single and large, the petals having light purple with strong purple towards the center. Yellow eye presents at the bottom of corolla throat. The plant exhibits high resistance to heat, cold, rain and disease.

Botanical/classification: Nierembergia sp.

Varietal denomination: Sunniparisobu.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety ofNierembergia plant, which originated from the crossing of Nierembergiahybrid varieties ‘NB4’ as the female parent and ‘N10’ as the maleparent. ‘Sunniparisobu’ is a vegetative propagated variety.

The female parent ‘NB4’ (unpatented) used in the crossing to produce‘Sunniparisobu’ is a strain of our breeding lines grown at Yokaichi-shi,Shiga-ken, Japan, having a tufted, bushy shape. The plant height islower than ‘Sunniparisobu’. The flowers are single and large, havingstrong purple petals.

The male parent ‘N10’ (unpatented) used in the crossing to produce‘Sunniparisobu’ is a strain of our breeding lines grown at Yokaichi-shi,Shiga-ken, Japan, having erect growth habit. The plant height is aboutthe same as ‘Sunniparisobu’. The flowers are single and medium size,having light purple with strong purple towards the center.

In July 1995, the crossing of ‘NB4’ as the female parent and ‘N10’ asthe male parent was conducted at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, andseedlings were obtained. In October 1996, one seedling was selected inview of its growth habit, flower size and color. That seedling waspropagated by cutting, and a trial was carried out by flower potting inthe glasshouse and field from May to October 1997, at Yokaichi-shi,Shiga-ken, Japan. The botanical characteristics of that plant were thenexamined, using similar varieties ‘Sunnicobu’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.13,934) and ‘Montebranco’ (unpatented) for comparison. As a result, itwas concluded that this Nierembergia plant is distinguishable from anyother variety, whose existence is known to us, and is uniform and stablein its characteristics. The new variety of Nierembergia plant was named‘Sunniparisobu’.

In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with theColour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England(R.H.S.).

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new variety is unlike any Nierembergia commercially available asevidenced by the following unique combinations of characteristics.

-   -   1. Erect growth habit with many branches.    -   2. Great profusion of blooms with the entire plant remaining in        bloom for a considerable period of time.    -   3. The flowers are single and large. The petal color is light        purple (near R.H.S. 85B) with strong purple (near R.H.S. 86B)        towards the center. Yellow eye presents at the bottom of corolla        throat.    -   4. The plant has a high resistance to rain, cold, heat and        disease.

The new variety ‘Sunniparisobu’ differs from the similar variety‘Sunnicobu’ in the following points.

-   -   1. The growth habit of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is erect, while        ‘Sunnicobu’ is tufted.    -   2. The plant of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is larger than that of        ‘Sunnicobu’.    -   3. The leaf of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is larger than that of        ‘Sunnicobu’.    -   4. The flower diameter of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is larger than that of        ‘Sunnicobu’.    -   5. The rain, heat, disease resistance of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is        stronger than that of ‘Sunnicobu’.

The new variety ‘Sunniparisobu’ differs from the similar variety‘Montebranco’ in the following points.

-   -   1. The growth habit of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is erect, while        ‘Montebranco’ is tufted.    -   2. The plant of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is larger than that of        ‘Montebranco’.    -   3. The leaf of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is longer than that of        ‘Montebranco’.    -   4. The flower diameter of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is larger than that of        ‘Montebranco’.    -   5. The petal color of ‘Sunniparisobu’ is light purple (near        R.H.S. 85B) with strong purple (near R.H.S. 86B) towards the        center, while ‘Montebranco’ is yellowish white (near R.H.S.        155D).    -   6. The rain, heat, disease resistance and cold hardiness of        ‘Sunniparisobu’ are stronger than those of ‘Montebranco’.

This new variety of Nierembergia Plant ‘Sunniparisobu’ was asexuallyreproduced by the use of cuttings at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, andhomogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The instant plantretains its distinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type insuccessive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The depicted plants had been reproduced by the use of cuttings and werephotographed during September 1998 while growing outdoor field at an ageof approximately 10 months at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical plant of the new variety of Nierembergiaplant ‘Sunniparisobu’.

FIG. 2 illustrates flowers of the new variety of Nierembergia plant‘Sunniparisobu’.

The botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety ofNierembergia plant named ‘Sunniparisobu’ are as follows, when observedduring September at Yokaichi-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan, at an age ofapproximately 10 months.

-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Erect.        -   Height.—Approximately 32 cm.        -   Spread.—Approximately 30 cm.-   Stem:    -   -   Thickness.—Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Color.—Near R.H.S. 146A (moderate olive green).        -   Branching.—Abundant.        -   Pubescence.—Present.        -   Length of internode.—Approximately 11 mm.-   Leaf:    -   -   Whole shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Length.—Approximately 38 mm.        -   Width.—Approximately 4.5 mm.        -   Color of upper side.—Near R.H.S. 146A (moderate olive            green).        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Attachment angle to stem.—Horizontal.        -   Petiole.—Absent.-   Flower:    -   -   Facing direction.—Upward.        -   Type.—Single.        -   Shape.—Cup-shaped, with five-fissures.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 37 mm.        -   Shape of petal tip.—Obtuse. Considerable variation in the            shape and size.        -   Petal margin.—Entire, occasionally sinuate.        -   Length of corolla tube.—Approximately 15 mm.        -   Color of petal.—Upper side: Near R.H.S. 85B (light purple)            with near R.H.S. 86B (strong purple) toward the center.            Reverse side: Near R.H.S. 91D (very pale purple).        -   Eye color.—Near R.H.S. 7B (brilliant greenish yellow).        -   Size of eye color.—Approximately 5.6 mm.        -   Outside color of corolla tube.—Near R.H.S. 85B (light            purple).        -   Flowering habit.—When planted in April in Japan, the            blooming period extends from June to October.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Color of stigma.—Near R.H.S. 144A (Strong yellow green).-   Stamen:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Type.—Epigynoecious.        -   Color of anther.—Near R.H.S. 12A (vivid yellow).-   Hardiness:    -   -   Winter.—USDA Hardiness Zone 8-12 (grown as perennial).        -   Rain.—No serious damage has been observed during the rainy            season (June-July) in Japan. However, heavy rain may damage            flower petals due to their thinness, which is a common            phenomenon in the Nierembergia genus.        -   Heat.—The plant grows well at temperatures up to at least            35° C.-   Resistance:    -   -   Disease.—No serious damage by powdery mildew or root rot has            been observed.        -   Insect.—Good. Under the dry condition, may have some damage            by the spider mite.

This new variety of Nierembergia plant ‘Sunniparisobu’ is most suitablefor flower bedding and potting.

1. A new and distinct variety of Nierembergia plant named‘Sunniparisobu’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.